February 25th, 2010 by Learning Systems

When shopping around for a learning management system that perfectly fits the needs of your organization, you might consider seeking the help of an LMS consultant. Consultants can help you sort out all the nitty gritty in your decision-making process, bringing years of experience in the LMS industry to your aid.

They are able to determine your company’s requirements for the system and review proposals and demonstrations of each vendor. Consultants can cut down on the amount of effort you’ll need to spend and can show you how each vendor meets or doesn’t meet your LMS requirements. They are able to highlight concerns and issues that might otherwise go unidentified.

Of course, whether or not you choose to hire a learning management system consultant, your first step to securing the perfect LMS is to decide on your organization’s needs. Consider a few different issues. First, determine the scale. How many students and other users will you be catering to? Consider the number of learners, courses, trainers, sessions, and administrators involved.

Second, what do you need your LMS to do? What do you need to track? These might be courses, grades, attendance and so on. Find out whether or not you need your LMS to be standards compliant (SCORM, IMS, etc.).

Third, consider your distribution plan. Will you be using your LMS only internally, or will you want it to have e-commerve capabilities? Will you need automatic billing?

Get straight on all the details before choosing an LMS. Learning management systems come in all sizes and meet a variety of requirements, so ensure that you have one in mind that covers all the bases you see fit.

A fourth consideration: should your LMS be connected to other systems within your company? Should it be able to export data to other systems?

The fifth issue is a critical one. What kind of support will you need? Does your organization have a strong IT department which will be able to meet any tech-related issues that may arise while using the LMS? And finally, does LMS you are considering provide reliable and 24-hour support to users?

Sixth, take into account your organizational needs in respect to organizing the training. LMSs have evolved to provide not only online education and training, but also to meet organizations’ planning and procedural needs. Ensure that these functions will be sustainable throughout the development of your organization.

Oftentimes, choosing an LMS forces companies to take a hard look at their approach to corporate training. For example, you may discover that you need to redefine some of your business processes, or even redesign your course delivery methods.

A learning management system should be both flexible and scalable. Too often organizations implement a LMS that works for a while, but as the organization grows, the LMS no longer meets its needs. LMSs should help you grow, so be sure to select an LMS that will grow with you.

Having a handle on what each LMS offers is a clear first step in deciding on which one you would like to employ. A consultant can help you answer the questions, “Does this LMS provide all the features we need?” Different LMSs offer a wide variety of functions including video, text, audio, assessment and quiz, gaming, podcast, and other tools to make your online training effective and interactive.

However, beyond making sure that your chosen LMS has everything you need, you should also consider any function the system provides that you actually won’t need. In many cases, you’re paying for all those extra features in addition to the actually useful ones. Of course, neat extra features might seem cool to have, but do you really need them? In order to prevent paying more for your LMS than you need to, it’s wise not to choose on an LMS with lots of bells and whistles that you will never actually employ.

But do check out the unique tools and functionalities offered by each LMS, and contact a few vendors to ask them to demo their LMS. Be sure that the learning management system has everything you need, and that the demo is able to illustrate your company’s requirements.

February 23rd, 2010 by Learning Systems

The Learning Management System is currently taking the lead in helping over a thousand companies to use in their application processes. There are some who find it a relief to acquire such program and there are a lot of people who commends the computer based training program as convenient and user-friendly. Here are some more reasons why it is very important to acquire this type of software for your organization.

First of the advantages that Learning Management System can provide is that it has a comprehendible course management feature. Anyone or people who are not that equipped with such knowledge regarding high end technologies can easily comprehend every single detail of the process being assessed as the system can sort and organize courses and lessons.

You may have noticed a lot of companies have already adapted this kind of system online. It is just in your discretion on which one has caught your interest or which system provides you better outputs. However, it does not matter what company you select. Comparing it to traditional ways of learning programs, it is better by a mile. Your stressful task has just been solved through these types of programs.

These programs are generated through hard works of the best programmers and developers in the world. They were able to come up with various courses from a set of fields ranging from health, education, computer courses or accounting and other. An organization has the option to choose the specific field they are interested to deal with in this type of technique.

Learning Management System also manages to have a systematic compilation and organized documentation of ever course and lecture a company or an organization has, which makes it easier to understand. Not only that, it is more convenient for people as they can allocate time by considering their pacing in understanding the course. Bid farewell to piles of lecture notes as Learning Management System do everything for you by not compensating the knowledge you would be getting from the program.

With the best things Learning Management System could provide, it just proves why it is leading the current trend of computer based training programs that companies and organizations love to use.

February 12th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Over a thousand companies and organizations have chosen Learning Management System for quite a few reasons. Some say they are really relived that there is such an application, and some people comment that they are quite convenient and are easy to use. There are actually top ten reasons why it is essential to have this kind of software – that is if you haven’t got one for your organization yet.

Among all the top ten reasons, the most popular reason why it is recommended to use this kind of program is because it provides an easy course management feature. What does this necessarily entail? Basically, this feature of the Learning Management System simply states that a child or someone taking up a short course can easily understand each and every single concept because the system can actually divide and have all the courses well organized.

Well, there are different companies offering this kind of system online, it is up to you whether which one catches your attention and which system can answer to all of your needs. But, no matter from what company you choose, definitely, it is a lot better compared to the normal hands on or even paper test and course lectures. So, if you would ask, how does a Learning Management System provide all of your needs and have it organized at the same time? You may think that it may be quite stressful, or even a hassle. Definitely, it will go the other way around.

Most of these systems were developed by great, if not great, the best programmers in the world, these developers were able to come up with different courses coming from different fields – health, accounting, education, or even a short computer course. With this, an organization may be able to choose which particular field they are interested - something that is related to their line of industry.

The Learning Management System has the following features, which enables each and every company or organization to have their courses, or lectures more organized and even easier to understand.

People would not have to leave their homes and have to struggle through the traffic while carrying a pen and even a notebook for training. Course takers may simply use the wonders of innovation and technology and have everything laid out to them without all these paper works. Say goodbye to a mountain pile of notes for lecture – say goodbye to confusing notes, and even struggle to write everything that is being discussed. The Learning Management System is definitely a paperless environment, wherein students can go back to the previous lectures just in case something is not clearly discussed.

Since this is an online course, this kind of system has texts and sometimes audio that comes along with the course. That way, trainees won’t be able to doze off, and even become more interested because of the interface. As a matter of fact, aside from being organized, many researches have already been conducted and had been proved that this kind of learning system is more effective compared to the traditional learning system course.

With the wonders Learning Management System could offer, it is so precise and there is no doubt why a lot of organizations are going into this kind of learning course.

February 8th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Although there’s no denying that the education trend (not only online learning via learning management systems, but non-virtual learning as well) has shifted toward an independent, self-guided mode, people still require incentives to learn just about anything. For this reason and others, monitoring trainees’ learning processes is critical.

Despite the widespread pedagogical pressure to believe the contrary, intentional learning doesn’t happen for most people. Or perhaps it does in some areas, but not for all kinds of content. Of course, anyone can get excited about learning a particular skill or topic that interests them. There’s no need to keep tabs on a teenager’s learning of their new video game, for example. The intention already exists.

But the hard truth is that although company training certainly can be fun and engaging, it’s often not centered around the most exciting topics trainees can imagine.

At its core, learning is about always wanting something. For people in a classroom setting, that something may be good grades. In a company training session or learning management system (LMS) course, the desired objective may include rewards for good performance, or simple verbal encouragement and acclaim.

People of all ages–both children and adults–are typically responsive to simple words of encouragement from a respected superior. Along with a user-friendly training program with its own system of points and rewards, employees benefit greatly from human motivation. A leader who motivates trainees not only facilitates the learning process, but instills a sense of team unity, which improves work relationships.

But beyond encouragement from a supervisor or training leader, another way to aid effective training is to monitor student progress. Some LMSs have features like the Activities monitor, which helps solve a problem all too prevalent in online training. The Activities tool makes simple the administrative responsibility of overseeing and guiding students in their learning process. It provides training administrators with a simple tool to track, in real time, the online course activities of students through a tab in the LMS interface.

The Activities feature serves a practical purpose. Using the feature, administrators can track student activities to find out where each one is exceeding, and in what areas extra attention may be required.

Monitoring trainees with the aid of a feature like Activities helps ensure that students are actually absorbing the content they are learning. Why is this important? First of all, ensuring training effectiveness saves organizations and educators valuable time and energy. In what ways? Many–and each depending on the kind of training you’re delivering.

On the other hand, some kinds of training may not necessarily benefit from such a feature. For example, training material given to new employees, teaching them the ins and outs of their new position, may not cry for a feature that monitors student progress in such an active way. After all, newcomers to an organization are typically excited about their new job–they want to learn. They are intentional learners.

With compliance training, however, that story changes. Here organizations save money in the long run if they ensure successful training. Conflict can be avoided, and employees can be protected. And of course, productivity is always increased when employees are well educated on workplace issues which are meant to facilitate communication and prevent conflict.

Automated tracking of learning allows trainers and educators to concentrate on teaching and administering content. Trainers can focus on the content and guiding student interaction with the material, rather than actively keeping tabs on them.

However, the most effective way to ensure that learning is taking place is the existence of a strong and engaging training course. It’s not enough to create satisfactory content, get it out there, and expect students to eat it up. A complete and flexible learning management system which provides a variety of robust features is the best way to create content that entices all learners to become intentional ones.

January 25th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Many people are upgrading their skills these days by using a learning management system (LMS). With a fast paced work environment, most organizations are implementing blended learning solutions that enable learners to experience the benefits of a classroom in a virtual environment. These learning systems can be invaluable and keep you updated about the various training courses. Using a LMS for a blended learning solution involves using different training mediums, events and activities to create a robust course for different audiences.

If you’re not really sure what a learning management system is, it’s basically a type of software application that uses various types of e-programs and other training content programs and methods to educate people. The systems usually look after all aspects of learning, including administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting. There are various types available which range in their capabilities.

While many employees are initiating their own involvement in a learning management system you will find there are just as many companies that are asking employees to utilize them. The employers see these systems as excellent ways to teach numerous people the same job skills simultaneously.

While some companies prefer to have their trainees learn at their own pace in an individual setting, many firms still believe there are advantages to training people in a virtual classroom environment.

Some of the benefits of a virtual classroom using a learning management system include:

• If training takes place in a virtual class the employees will begin to feel and act like a team instead of individuals and it’s usually teamwork that leads to success these days. The class will realize everybody is on the same page when it comes to achieving business goals.

• It also allows the employees to take courses according to their schedules and also experience the benefits of a classroom. This guarantees that students interact and network with each other while learning at the own pace. It does not need them to worry that somebody is too far ahead or behind the rest of the group.

• For trainers, a learning management system provides a forum for students to exchange ideas, queries and promotes a healthy discussion which supports knowledge retention. If there are any important messages or changes in the course outline, everybody will hear about it instantly.

• A virtual classroom learning management system will also allow students to help each other out when needed and can help them bond.

• Everything that is learned in the classroom will eventually create a common experience for all students to share and discuss.

• The costs for running a virtual classroom using a learning management system is less than having all the learners in a classroom.

• Students can work in team, but the employer still has the option of having them work individually when necessary.

Because each learning management system may vary greatly from the next, some of them will be more suited to classroom settings while others may be more appropriate for people to learn on their own.

January 18th, 2010 by Learning Systems

If you need a productive and efficient employee, you can consider online training to overcome the performance gap. As a company one of the greatest assets is a valuable employee. When a company hires an employee they are making an investment in their future. Employee retention is extremely important because every time the company has to start from scratch training a new employee it costs more money to them. Therefore, it is more cost effective to the company in the long run to ensure the employee is happy in their job. Part of this entails paying a fair wage and benefits for the position but another responsibility of an employer is to ensure proper training.

Why Train Employees?
Online training can help facilitate your organizational training needs. Employee training includes ensuring the employee is qualified and trained in the position for which they were hired. However, it goes even further than that. If the company wants to ensure employee retention they have to provide a stable future to the employee. An employee wants to be challenged in their area of expertise and they also want to know that there is room for advancement. If they can not advance both professionally and financially internally with the company, the employee will start looking elsewhere. In addition, it simply makes sense to ensure the employee has all the available tools needed to work efficiently and effectively. The more knowledge the employee has, the better they will be at their job.

What can Online Training Offer?
Online training allows employers to offer employees tools to advance themselves within their career and personally. Internal online training can mean training materials and course work geared toward a specific position. New hires can take online training courses to learn how to do their job and test on policies and procedures. Existing employees can begin taking job specific courses that will ready them for their next steps within the organization. For example, if an employee wants to move to another department, that employee can begin taking coursework to become familiar with the operational procedures within that department.

Additionally, online training can provide personal improvement possibilities. This can help the employee do their existing job better as well as prepare them for more advanced positions within the company. For example, an employer may have available computer courses. This will allow the employee to add skills to their resume. A savvy employee will look first at their existing position to see how they can apply their new found knowledge to improve their work. This will result in getting noticed my management and their proactive stance in their position will give them an advantage on the competition when it is time for internal advancement.

Advantages to Online Training
Many companies are moving toward online training as opposed to sending employees to traditional brick and mortar learning institutions. The two primary reasons for this are cost and convenience. First, online courses typically cost less so the company can provide more training at the lower cost. Next, the employee has the advantage of being able to work from the office or home as is convenient. In the office they will be available for questions or in case of emergency. But, they also have the option of taking continuing education classes in the convenience of their own home when they have free time to do so.

January 2nd, 2010 by Learning Systems

Every organization has an additional responsibility when they send their employees on assignments outside the country such as training, now made easier with compliant platforms of online training. Usually, these trainings teach employees of the work culture, safety tips, how to deal with emergency situations etc. Have you considered using online training to educate your employees? You might find this as an expense for a minor training requirement but since this a one time investment; it has advantages in the long run.

Most employees find any training boring and unnecessary, and attend them because they are unavoidable or a requirement to travel abroad. If you use online training to teach ‘International Travel Safety Tips’, you can change their perception. Elearning can make the program flexible and interactive. An interesting example is to make an interactive solution that would involve the learner going on a short journey.

The online training can have real-life scenarios that an employee would face during international travel. Usually, these trainings are conducted by the travel team or an individual from HR. The trainings are conducted by them every time employees are scheduled to make a trip. This can be a time consuming activity for the trainer and even stressful for the employee.

With an online training program on international travel, employees can learn everything they want to and get certified as well. You can include a bunch of questions as a part of an assessment to ensure that they have retained the training. The training programs are self-paced and do not require them to pull out of their daily schedule to complete.

Organizations have employees traveling to different countries. In such situations, trainers are required to be knowledgeable about each destination and this can be quite tricky. Online training allows you to have a single interface, with content that is focused to each destination. Elearning ensures that each employee that takes the training receives consistent information; this cannot be guaranteed in a classroom setup.

If you have budget constraints to build such training, you can always look for online training that are available on the Internet. Once you find the training, you can customize it to meet your organizational needs. In fact, some of the online training is designed to cover every aspect of travel safety. For instance, the training covers topics that comprise of type of clothing, different aspects of the destination, information that must be seen on your itinerary, emergency contacts, documents for the business trip etc.

In the past, training employees about international travel safety tips was not taken too seriously. With strict rules and regulations defined by the federal and state authorities organizations needs to carry out these trainings. Taking advantage of an online training solution can help you meet your organizational training needs and ensure compliance to government regulations.

Training your employees about safety for international trips can be overwhelming and it is a good idea to cover every aspect. From H1N1 to getting to the airport, every organization must train their employees and make certain they are prepared for an emergency. With the right online training program, you can have your own ‘Travel and Living’ and make this an enjoyable experience for your employees.

Visit Coggno’s online training marketplace now for online training courses on a variety of topics.

November 9th, 2009 by Learning Systems

What makes online training different from traditional classroom training? Is it the cost of training delivery, course of degrees that your learners can choose from, or is the flexibility that elearning offers? We have listed some of the most widespread advantages that online training offers to learners and trainers.

You want to lower the cost of training! With online training you can reduce brick and mortar costs that are needed for classrooms. If you have a global learning audience, e-learning can help you reach this audience with ease and cut the cost involved for travel, accommodation and support material. With online training, students can save on the cost of buying books, notes or additional materials that are required in a classroom. All the materials can be made available online and downloaded as required.

You need flexibility when training! When you have your entire training available online, you don’t need a schedule. All you need to do is upload the training modules, videos, audio transcripts and launch the course. What you need to do is decide on the calendar day to release the training so that your students are aware when the latest online training is available. This approach works well for students as well because they can study at their own pace.

Make your training effective!  It’s a fact that most of the learners do not retain all the training delivered in the classroom. Online training is designed and developed to overcome this challenge and allows the learner to revisit the training when needed. In fact one of the top advantages is that you can have a large audience and better training effectiveness as compared to a large classroom audience.

Flexibility with the audience! Most of the training carried out in the classroom is not suited for learners who are working. They are either at night school with a day job, a part time job with a part time course and or in-house training in organizations. In any scenario this can affect the productivity of employees and be quite tiresome for such students. Online training is an advantage in such scenarios. Why? Learners can decide the schedule, learn when they choose to and get back to the job. The training is always available and can be picked up from where its left off. Even trainers can reach a wider audience, which is not really an option with in house training. Not everyone is willing to leave a job to earn a degree but would find this alternative quite tempting.

Your learners can network! Though classrooms enable face-to-face interaction, it is not a solution when your learners have a doubt. In such situations, online training can give your learners the comfort of asking questions without feeling awkward. This confidence helps learners; trainers and the learners can network while they work with each other. Virtual classrooms like these foster an environment to learn and have a high success rate.

Assignments, assessments and evaluation!  Online training leverages the latest technology to assess learners and provides trainers with customized reports. Assessments can be made more interactive, real life scenarios can be used to engage learners and even basic multiple-choice questions can be randomized to avoid dishonesty. Learners have the advantage of receiving feedback instantly or at the end of the test. In house training assessments do not offer learners or trainers flexibility of this variety.

It is important to remember that online training has proved to help learners better and retain a large amount of training because of a self paced environment. There are other benefits that are seen in an online learning environment but usually experienced by learners that are a part of an online training for the first time.